For any professional hockey player born in the year 2000 or later, their pro experience has been played entirely during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating a new normal that players have become accustomed to. These players have not been able to fully immerse themselves in the traditional professional hockey experience, and in some cases it has taken a mental toll on them. San Jose Barracuda defenceman Cole Moberg is part of this group of young players, who’s currently experiencing his second year at the pro level. Fortunately, Moberg had instilled a ‘never quit’ attitude from a young age, and has embraced the uncertain times with a positive mindset as he aspires to reach the NHL.  

Born in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Moberg grew up playing minor hockey at the North Shore Winter Club (NSWC), and gives all the credit to his Dad, Greg Moberg, who played junior hockey himself, with being the greatest influence on his hockey career. “My parents got me in skating when I was three and I started playing hockey when I was probably four or five,” said Moberg. “I wasn’t necessarily one of the better players on my team growing up, I was kind of a late bloomer. I didn’t really start to find my stride until Junior.”  

Although Moberg wasn’t drafted into the Western Hockey League (WHL), his strong play in a BC junior league was noticed by the WHL’s Prince George Cougars who promptly signed him and where Moberg would spend the next three seasons. “I honestly loved it up there. I mean we struggled and didn’t make the playoffs while I was there, but when you’re in a small town with not much to do you kind of grow as a family and a team.” 

His offensive game came into form when he was 18, posting 40 points in 61 games as a defenceman during the 2018-19 season, putting him on the map ahead of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Ironically, the Draft was in Moberg’s home city of Vancouver, BC where he would be selected in the seventh round, 194^thoverall by the Chicago Blackhawks. 

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to get drafted or not and didn’t want to go and not get drafted, so I was just at home with my family when the Blackhawks called.”

Moberg did have some conversations with the Blackhawks prior to being drafted, so the call didn’t come as a complete surprise. “I actually went down to Chicago right after the NHL Combine and did testing there. Each team does their own testing after the Combine because only the top 100 prospects go to the Combine, so teams want to see other guys. I kept in touch with the Blackhawks throughout the season so I knew I was on their radar.”

After being drafted by the Blackhawks, Moberg returned to Prince George for his final season with the Cougars where he kept up his production, scoring 37 points in 58 games, finishing second in team scoring. However, towards the end of that season, the world essentially shut down due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, crushing the hearts of many junior hockey players and teams across the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) whose seasons were abruptly cancelled. 

“When COVID first hit we just thought it would be here for a little bit and then go away. We only had six games left and weren’t going to make the playoffs anyway, but at the time it created a lot of uncertainty, especially for the next season and summer training.”

Moberg described that first summer during COVID as a regular off-season, so he rested and then got back in the gym, and later started skating and preparing like the regular season was going to start on time. “Once things started to get pushed back though, it became a lot harder to prepare for the coming season because we didn’t know when we were going to get going. So you had to adjust your workouts and how much you were skating because you’re ramping up your training to be in peak performance for a certain date, then you’re not, then it’s moved, so it wasn’t the easiest after we got postponed the first time. But once the season finally started it was a lot easier.”

That next season was full of uncertainty. Most junior leagues didn’t play at all, the ECHL began their season on December 11^th with only half their teams playing, the start of the NHL season was delayed, while the American Hockey League didn’t start their season until February 5^th with some teams taking a voluntary one-year suspension. Through it all Moberg had to stay ready despite not knowing where he would be playing. 

“I talked to my agent and we were not given much concrete information because things were changing constantly. It was like every two weeks to a month the season would get pushed back so it wasn’t like we knew how long it was going to be.” 

This amount of uncertainty made Moberg weigh all his options in hopes of just getting back into a game that year. Fortunately for him, the Blackhawks’ AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, had some openings on defence, and once the AHL season began he was asked to join the team.

One of the biggest adjustments for any defenceman as they transition from junior to professional hockey is working on their defensive game to earn their Coach’s trust. Although Moberg put up impressive offensive numbers in junior, his new role would be more of a shut-down guy.

“When you get to the pro level, you’re playing with guys who are 20 years old as well as guys who are a lot older than that, more mature, and have a lot more experience than you. It takes time. Things are obviously going to change when you go to pro.  Not many guys can just go into pro and be the exact same player. There are a lot of things to learn. But I’d say the biggest thing for me was to improve my defensive zone.”

During the 2020-21 season, as Moberg was experiencing professional hockey for the very first time, he and his teammates were adhering to strict COVID-19 protocol, including being tested every single day and being advised to only hang out in small groups. 

“It was something like 113 straight days of COVID tests.”

Perhaps the most difficult aspect for Moberg and other young players coming into the league, was living on their own for the first time and not being able to socialize with the team away from the rink as much as they would have during a normal season. Moberg relied on the veteran presence and guidance from fellow defenceman and BC native Cody Franson, who has over 550 NHL games on his resume, as well as Garrett Mitchell who served as the team’s Player Representative for the Professional Hockey Players’ Association (PHPA). 

“Both guys were a huge help to me personally. Garrett has been around the pro game for a long time and is a great leader, so for me going in as a young guy, to have someone like him around was so beneficial. We also had Cody Franson who’s played a lot of pro games at different levels and in different leagues. Having both of them there to guide not only me but all the young guys through day-to-day life in pro hockey helped a lot. I mean when you go from junior, having billets and they are cooking for you, and then you move on to pro and you’re living on your own, having guys around that have that type of experience helps a lot.”

It was also really nice to have Garrett as our PHPA Player Representative. He did such a great job keeping us up-to-date as things were changing constantly throughout the year. I honestly didn’t know too much about the PHPA before that season, but it was great to learn more about it and actually very reassuring to know that the players have a strong union that supports us and takes care of us.”  

After completing the shortened season with Rockford on a one-year Pro-Try Out contract, his next professional season had a question mark beside it. He had to re-enter the NHL Draft and following that was considered a free agent. Luckily for Moberg, the San Jose Sharks organization invited him to their development camp, where he impressed the coaches and Sharks management enough to get invited to the main camp and Rookie Tournament. Moberg eventually signed with San Jose the day after pre-season games had concluded.

He began the 2021-22 season in the ECHL with the Orlando Solar Bears and has since been recalled to the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. When asked about the difference between the two leagues and if he has had to adjust his game, Moberg said, “The AHL and ECHL are very similar leagues, but the adjustment between the two can be hard. Obviously, you are going to have the more skilled guys in the AHL, but besides that it’s still a fast-paced game. In terms of changing my game, it was just the situations I was put in. With the Barracuda I am the sixth or seventh defenceman, so I’m playing minimal minutes, whereas in Orlando I was playing more minutes and in more situations like the power-play.”

Enter Moberg’s ‘never quit’ attitude that was instilled in him since his days playing minor hockey. He continues to work hard and hopes to stick with the Barracuda for the rest of the season, remaining one step closer to his childhood dream of playing in the NHL. “Once you get to the AHL, you are so close to the NHL yet so far, so that’s the continued goal since I was a kid and that’s what I’m going to strive towards.”

Even though his professional career is only just beginning, Moberg’s hockey journey to this point serves as an inspiration to other players, young and old, who aspire to reach the next level.

“I tell kids to just never give up, regardless of the level they are playing. You’re going to have coaches that believe in you and you may have coaches that don’t believe in you which can be frustrating. But I think it all stems from you believing in yourself and not giving up. You just have to put in the work every day because some guys play better when they are younger, and some guys play better as they get older. It’s about how much work you are willing to put in and not letting uncertainty or adversity get in your way. I think my hockey career so far is proof of that.”

From playing through COVID to being drafted in the seventh round, although Moberg’s journey to professional hockey has been uncertain since the beginning, he continues to inspire which speaks to his work ethic and character.

With that level of perseverance, perhaps it won’t be long before Moberg’s NHL dream becomes a reality.